Don’t look now, but the 2023-24 NBA season is quickly coming to a close. With the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers matching up in the Eastern Conference Finals and the Minnesota Timberwolves taking on the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals, it won’t be long before the NBA Finals are tipping off and then ending, leaving us without any NBA action until October.
Not to worry, though, as the NBA Summer League is scheduled to make its return in late July to fill the void. The NBA Summer League 2024 tips off in Las Vegas on July 12 and runs through July 22. Many betting platforms like bet365 already have odds for the league, and this review of bet365 might be helpful for fans willing to place a bet. It’ll feature all 30 NBA teams, including the Cleveland Cavaliers who will look to defend the championship they won during the 2023 NBA Summer League.
NBA teams won’t finalize their NBA Summer League rosters until June, but the Cavaliers’ roster is expected to include Sam Merrill and Emoni Bates. These players will both try to make big splashes in the 2024 Summer League in the hopes of earning more playing time for the Cavs when the 2024-25 NBA season starts.
Merrill — who was originally drafted by the New Orleans Pelicans with the last pick in the 2020 NBA Draft following four seasons at Utah State before being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks — has bounced around the NBA in recent seasons. He spent time with the Bucks, Memphis Grizzlies, and Sacramento Kings before eventually landing with the G League’s Cleveland Charge and working his way up to the Cavaliers. He appeared in 61 games for Cleveland during the 2023-24 season and averaged a career-high 8.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.8 assists.
Bates — who was drafted by the Cavaliers in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft — is still trying to find his footing in the NBA after college stints at Memphis and Eastern Michigan, so the NBA Summer League could provide him with a great opportunity to show that he belongs in the league. He spent the 2023-24 season splitting time between the Charge and Cavaliers. He played in 15 games for the Cavs, averaging just 8.9 minutes and 2.7 points per game. But he’s only 20 and could potentially play a big part in the Cavs’ future if things break right for him.
Wondering where to watch the NBA Summer League so that you can see players like Merrill and Bates play for yourself? You’ll be happy to hear that ESPN will show live Summer League games. You’ll also be happy to hear that you can buy tickets to Summer League games at Thomas & Mack Center if you’ll be in Las Vegas in July while the league is going on. Stay tuned for more details about the Summer League schedule, which should be available soon.
